TXFO01: SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES SITREP NO. 9,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000067

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND CA/OCS
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING, GARVELINK
GENEVA FOR NANCY KYLOW
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN
NEW DELHI FOR FAS
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015
TAGS: AEMR EAID CASC PGOV CE MV
SUBJECT: TXFO01: SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES SITREP NO. 9,
JANUARY 10

REF: COLOMBO 38 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission. 1.4 (b,d)

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SRI LANKA
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1. (U) Consular efforts: As previously reported, the number
of American citizens killed as a result of the tsunami stands
at eight, with one additional AmCit missing and presumed
dead. Conoffs have reduced the number of welfare and
whereabouts cases: 15 AmCits remain unaccounted for in Sri
Lanka. Consular TDY support has arrived in Colombo and has
been productive and very helpful in resolving many
outstanding AmCit cases.


2. (U) Government figures: According to GSL statistics,
30,725 people have died, and 4,951 are still missing. Some
14,000 people remain hospitalized or are recovering from
injuries. Over 109,143 families have been displaced, many
temporarily re-located to the 592 IDP camps around the island.


3. (U) Getting on with Life: Throughout the island, roughly
6 out of every 10 government schools started session January
10, after being postponed from their original January 5
commencement. During recent trips to Galle and the
surrounding villages, several emboffs have noted that the
situation on the ground has improved since the final days in
December. During a January 5 visit to one IDP camp in the
Galle area, poloff found the center half empty and was told
that most of the men spend the day working at their homes,
only returning to eat and sleep in the center at night.


4. (C) Military efforts in full-swing: The Combined Support
Group Sri Lanka (CSGSL),headed by Brigadier General Panter,
has established three centers of operation in Sri Lanka:
Colombo, Katunayake (the military side of the international
airport north of Colombo),and Galle. Military personnel
have conducted site survey for water purification systems,
begun clearing debris, and have air-lifted relief cargo. In
what will be a significant boost to USG efforts, the USS
Duluth arrived on January 9 with additional personnel and
much-needed heavy engineering equipment.


5. (SBU) USAID relief efforts: The members of the USAID
DART mission have been active on a variety of fronts:
coordinating with INGOs, providing information to the
international community on the assistance available from U.S.
military resources, and discussing immediate needs as well as
mid- and long-term requirements, including water and
sanitation and psycho-social and human trafficking issues
(see Septels).


6. (U) The Secretary's January 7 visit: During his
afternoon stop in Sri Lanka, the Secretary visited the
southern town of Galle, in addition to meetings with the
President and Opposition Leader before hosting a press
conference at the airport. The visit was successful and has
been covered widely in local media (see Septel).


7. (C) Mission Visitors: Senators Frist and Landrieu toured
Sri Lanka, both the south and east on January 6. A majority
of the members another CODEL, headed by HIRC East Asia and
Pacific Subcommittee Chairman Leach, are due in late January

10. Some of the representatives and Senator Brownback have
already arrived and are pursuing individual programs today.
The entire delegation will have Embassy and GSL meetings on
January 11 before helicoptering to the south to see the
Marines in operation and tour AID/OTI and AID/OFDA relief and
rehabilitation sites.

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MALDIVES
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8. (U) Casualties: According to the Maldivian government,
82 people died, including 76 Maldivians, 3 tourists, and 3
foreign expatriate workers. An additional 26 Maldivians are
still missing. Throughout the islands, the Government has
catalogued damage to almost 4,000 buildings. No Americans
are unaccounted for in Maldives.


9. (SBU) Airport Assistance from the U.S.: The Maldivian
Government has been in contact with the FAA in the U.S. to
help provide parts for some of the airport navigation systems
that were damaged when the island flooded on December 26.
FAA has responded positively to Maldives' request and is
planning on dispatching a technician to Male' to provide
equipment and assistance in restoring the airport systems.
(Note: At present, the Male' airport is fully functional,
with only low visibility becoming potentially problematic.)


10. (SBU) U.S. Assessment Team, Take 2: Following up the
Embassy/military/USAID team that visited Maldives, a second
team is in Maldives January 10 for specific logistics
planning, given that both the U.S. military and USAID have a
better idea of specific resources being programmed for
Maldives. A member of AID's OFDA team will be temporarily
stationed in Maldives as of January 10 to coordinate some of
the U.S. relief supplies.


11. (U) Relief Supplies to Maldives: To date, the U.S. has
sent three relief planes to the island nation with a variety
of supplies including water bladders and containers, plastic
sheeting and hygiene kits. USAID estimates the water
materials alone can benefit approximately 25,000 Maldivians.

LUNSTEAD